River.

Chapter 159: Close Call

Cassidy's P.O.V.

"All I'm saying is that what you did was wrong." I said to River as he laid in bed staring at the TV while I sat crisscrossed next to him.

"If it was so wrong why didn't you try to stop me?"

"Because I knew you wouldn't have stopped. But just because I didn't try to stop you doesn't mean I'm okay with the fact that you tortured that man."

"I did what I had to do to get him to talk."

"No River you did what you thought was the only way to get him to talk. There could've been another way besides breaking his fucking fingers and cutting them off."

"What would you have done?"

"I would've taken the time to think about a solution. That's your problem you don't think you just do. No one deserves to be tortured. Not even Floyd. That's just inhumane. Only immoral people torture other human beings. You've been through things like that before. You know what its like. So why would you do something like that to another person?"

"I've been tortured because of the simple fact that the person that did it thought it was fun. Floyd killed his own daughter and hid her body. What happened to me and what I did to Floyd are two different things. You think I enjoyed doing that? I did it because that was the only way he was gonna tell us. He's lucky I didn't slit his fucking throat afterwards."

"Would you have done it if he hadn't hid Lili's body? Killed him?"

"Yep. Without a doubt."

"So killing comes easy for you?"

"Definitely. After your first time doing it it becomes almost as easy as breathing. Doesn't mean I like doing it though."

"Then why do you do it?"

"Because I'm not a hero Cassidy. I don't just turn murderers over to the cops. I don't believe that someone who's taken an innocent person's life deserves to stay alive. You're making it seem like I kill just for the hell of it. I don't. Every man I've killed once took the life of someone I knew."

"Okay but what you did tonight... That's not like you River. You wouldn't put someone through misery just for answers. Even your worst enemy."

"Alright Cassidy I'm done talking."

"What, is the truth too much for you to handle?"

"No your bitching is just starting to irritate me."

"I'm just being honest."

"No you're being a bitch."

"Okay I don't care how mad you are but do not call me that River."

"Well you're fucking sitting here provoking me Cassidy when you know how short of a temper I have!"

"But I've told you not to call me that!"

"Sorry I can't control half the shit that comes out of my mouth when someone's pissing me off."

"Oh so I'm pissing you off because I'm telling you something you don't wanna hear?"

"No you're pissing me off because you're lecturing me about something that can't be undone! I did it! It happened! Now get the fuck over it!"

"Don't raise your voice at me River! I've been nothing but calm the entire time. The least you could do is not disrespect me!"

"Just stop talking to me then! Because I'm gonna end up saying something that makes me sound like a dick then you're gonna slap the hell out of me and pull the victim card as always even though you're the one provoking me!"

"How am I provoking you?! Its not my fault you have a short ass temper!"

"You're right its not your fault but you should have the common fucking decency to stop when you see that I'm clearly on the edge of lashing the hell out!"

"At this point all I'm asking is that you don't disrespect me and be a douchebag when you're having one of your stupid temper tantrums! All I'm saying is that WHAT YOU DID WAS WRONG! What you did was something that the old River would've done. You let go of that past version of yourself because it was so dark. Because you were afraid of what you were turning into. And now it's back and you seem to be fine with it."

"FUCK OFF CASSIDY!"

Caught off guard by his shocking outburst, my hand went flying across his face.

He closed his eyes and paused for a moment then got out of the bed as he ran his hand through his hair and headed towards the door.

I walked in front of him, standing between him and the door.

"Dont ever do that again." I warned.

"Get out of my way." He said through clenched teeth as I noticed his hands shaking.

"Are you trying to keep from hitting me?" I asked.

Instead of answering he just continued to stare at me, his hands still violently shaking.

"You are aren't you." I said as I slightly pushed him back.

Still no answer.

"Go ahead, hit me." I said pushing him again as he closed his eyes, his face turning even more red. "That's what you wanna do anyways isn't it?"

Suddenly Riley ran into the room.

"Whoa Cassidy stop." He said, standing in between River and I, slightly pushing me back.

"No you stay out of this!" I demanded.

"Cass stop!" He yelled, once again trying to push me back.

I shoved him as hard as I could causing him to fall onto the bed and just as I was about to push River again, River grabbed me and spun me around so that my back was against the wall then he threw his fist at the wall, punching it just a few inches from my face. He stared at me with a cold glare in his eyes then turned and walked out of the room.

Meanwhile I just stood there trying to process what'd just happened as Riley stared at me in just as much disbelief.